Since the Industrial Revolution, the alleys, sewers, and towers of the city have provided a labyrinthine landscape that mirrors the poetic explorations of its inhabitants. Whitman’s “I contain multitudes” boldly points out each city dweller’s multiple ways of being in the world. This course explores the effects of the city’s ever-changing spaces and systems within our own writing. Readings by César Vallejo, Kenneth Koch, and Elaine Equi will be discussed.